Warp knitting machine



Sept. 9, 1947. r F. LAMBACH WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR f r-IIIIIILL ATTORNEY p 1947. F. LAMBACH 2,427,007

WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1944 '2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR fk/Tz LAMBACH ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE WARP KNITTING MACHINE Fritz Lambach, Tenafly, N. J. Application November 30, 1944, Serial No. 565,861

12 Claims.

My invention relates to warp knitting machines, and more particularly to a lubricating system for warp knitting machine.

An object of my invention is to provide a lubricating system, by means of which an oil film is continuously applied to all gears of the pattern Wheel drive, so that a backlash resulting in an undesired rebouncing of the guide bars reciprocated by the pattern wheel mechanism is avoided.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lubricating system for the lubrication of several drives and mechanisms of the warp knitting machine spaced from each other, wherein the oil consumed at the spaced places of the drives and mechanisms may be readily replaced by supplying fresh oil to a single centralized place.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lubricating system for the pattern wheel mechanism, by means of which at least a portion of the oil supplied to the circumference of the pattern wheels may be used for a lubrication of the reciprocating elements carrying the spring loaded followers cooperating with the pattern wheels and actuating the guide bars.

Still another object of my invention is to improve upon the lubrication and construction of the pattern wheel mechanism, of the drive of the shaft actuating the take-up device, and of the drive of the pattern wheels as now ordinarily made.

A further object of my invention is to provide for a warp knitting machine, wherein the change gears included in the drive for the pattern wheels are arranged at a readily accessible place of the machine.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction of my improvements as will be hereinafter fully described.

The above mentioned objects and advantages as wel1 as other objects and advantages will be more fully disclosed in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end view of a warp knitting machine, illustrating the pattern wheels and their drive, some parts being broken away, some parts being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on line 22 shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, I'll indicates substantially taken the main driving shaft of a warp knitting machine, journalled in suitable bearings of the machine. The main driving shaft may be rotated by means of a drive, for example an electromotor, not shown.

I2 indicates another shaft of the warp knitting machine, which is journalled in suitable bearings and serves to actuate the mechanism of a takeup device (not shown) for taking up the fabric knitted by the implements of the warp knitting machine; for example, such a take-up device may be of the type shown in my co-pending patent application Ser. #523,638 relating to A take-up device for a warp knitting machine, filed on February 24, 1944, and in such a case the shaft I2 would correspond to the shaft shown in the figures of my said co-pending patent application. To simplify matters, the shaft I2 is hereinafter called a "take-up shaft.

I4 indicates a clutch member rotatably but axially immovably arranged on a hand wheel shaft I6 for cooperation with a clutch member I8 positively coupled with and axially movably arranged on said hand wheel shaft I6. Said clutch I4, I8, by means of which the hand wheel shaft I6 may be operatively engaged with or disengaged from the main driving shaft may be of the type described in my U. S. Patent 2,363,535 relating to A knitting machine, issued November 28, 1944, for example.

According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the main driving shaft Ill, the takeup shaft I2 and the clutch member I4 are operatively connected with each other by a chain drive generally indicated by 20. As shown in the drawings, a sprocket gear 22 arranged at the end of the main shaft I0 is secured to the latter by means of a pin 24, a sprocket gear 26 is keyed to the take-up shaft I2, a sprocket gear 28 is integral with or rigidly secured to the body of the clutch member I4, and a chain 32 is trained around said three sprocket gears 22, 26, 28. As will be apparent from above, a'rotation of the main driving shaft I0 causes a rotation of the take-up shaft I2 and the clutch member I 4 through the medium of the chain drive 20; likewise, if the clutch member I8 is engaged with the clutch member I4, a rotation of the handwheel shaft I6 causes a rotation of the main driving shaft I [I and the take-up shaft I 2 through the medium of the chain drive 20.

According to the invention, said chain drive 20 is arranged within a casing 42 secured in a suitable manner to stationary parts of the frame of the warp knitting machine. Oil or any other suitable lubricant may be put into said casing 42 through an opening capable of being closed by a cover 44. The oil brought into the casing 42 will form an oil sump therein, by means of which the elements of the chain drive 20 are continuously lubricated during the operation of the warp knitting machine. If desired, a disklike oil thrower 46 may be secured to the flange like portion 300i theclutch member I4 for rotation therewith, so as to assist in the lubrication of the chain drive 20.

In order to adjust the tension in the chain 32, an adjusting element 34 contacting the chain is swingably mounted at 36 in the casing 42, Said element 34 may be held in its position by a set screw 38 passing through a slot 40 of this element 34.

48 indicates a cover plate detachably mounted on the casing 42 for covering an opening 50; 52 indicates an oil drain pot communicating with the interior of the casing '42. 54 indicates a plug screwed into a threaded opening of the casing 42; if desired, the oil maybe discharged from the container v42 by a removal of said plug 54.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the end of the main driving shaft has a recess 50, and one end of a connecting shaft 58 coaxially arranged with the main driving shaft I0 is engaged with said recess 56. A key 60 carried by the connecting shaft 58 and engaged with a groove in the main driving shaft I0 causes a positive coupling between the connecting shaft :58 and the main driving shaft I0, so that a rotation of the main driving shaft I0 results'in a rotation of said connecting shaft 58. The other end of said connecting shaft 58 is journalled in a bearing 62 secured to a casing or container 64 mounted on a stationary part of the warp knitting machine. A first change gear 56 of a change gear drive generally indicated, by IiBis exchangeably secured to the end of the connecting shaft 50 in a manner, -known per se. Said first change'gear 66 is in mesh with a second change gear 1-0 of said change gear drivefiii. Said second change gear i0 is exchangeably secured to the end of a shaft I2 journalled in bearingslAan-d 16. The casing 54 arrangedat-theend of the warp knitting machine has an opening I8, normally covered by a cover plate-80detachably mounted on the casing 64. Upon removal of said-cover plate 80, the change'gear drive 68 is readily accessible to the operator of the machine for a change of the set of change gears. When the proper change gears 55, I0 are'mounted on the connecting shaft 58 and the shaft I2, the cover plate 80 is attached to the casing 64. Now, oil may be put into the casing 64 through an opening 02 which, thereupon, may be closed by a cover 84. The oil brought into the casing 54 forms an oil sump therein'for a continuous lubrication of the gears of the change gear drive 68, during an operation of the warp knitting machine.

86 indicates an oil drain pot communicating with the. interior of the casing 64. 83 indicates a plug, normally closing an opening at the bottom'of thecasing 64, which however may be removed for a discharge of the oil therein, whenever .a change .of-the change gear drive has to be carried out.

The shaft I2 rotated .by the gear I0 of the change gear drive .68 carries a worm -90 of a worm gear drive, generally indicated by 02. Said worm 90.is.in mesh with a worm gear .94 keyed to a. shaft 96, journalled in bearings 90 of the frame of the machine. The worm gear drive 92 is ar ranged within a casing or container I00 closed by a cover I02. Before closing said casing I00 by the cover I02, oil may be filled into the casing I00 for a lubrication of the worm gear drive.

A disk-like support I04 is keyed to the end of the shaft 96 for a rotation by said shaft S S. A first pattern wheel I06 and a second pattern wheel I08 are secured to said support I04 by means of bolts I I0. The lower portion of each of said pattern wheels I06, 208 dips into an oil sump formed by oil, placed into an open casing or tank II2, suitably mounted on a stationary part of the machine.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 4, each upright portion II4 of two supporting members generally indicated by III-l carries a roller IIB for engagement with the circumference of a pattern wheel. The base I28 of each supporting member I10 and a hollow rod I22 inserted into an opening I24 of each supporting member and securedthereto by a pin I26 are slidably arranged for reciprocating movements in suitable bearings I28 and. I30 arranged on a stationary part of the machine. There are two followers I34, one for the actuation of a first guide bar I32, the other for the actuation of a second guide bar (not shown in Fig. 2), which is arranged in a plane behind the plane of the first guide bar, as viewed in Fig. 2. The actuation of both guide bars carrying the thread guides (not shown) by the pattern wheels isidentical, so that a description of the actuation of the guide bar I32 shown in Fig. 2 is sufficient for an understanding of said mechanisms. One end of such afollower I34 is in movable engagement with a ball 535 arranged opposite the roller II8 on the upright portion II4 of the supporting member I IS; the other end of said follower I34 is in movable engagement with a ball I38 connected with the end of the guide bar I32 suspended from a holder I40, secured to a shaft I42 axially movably and rotatably arranged in the frame of the machine. A spring I42 stretchedbetween an extension I44 0f the guide bar I32 and a stationary part I46 of the machine tends to urge the follower I34 towards the pattern wheel so as to hold the roller H8 in engagement with the circumference of said pattern wheel. Obviously. depending on the shape of the pattern wheel and. the shape of the cams on the circumference of the pattern wheel, the supporting member IIfi, the follower I34, and the guide bar I32 are subjected to reciprocating movements. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the longitudinal axis of the follower I34 is substantially in the horizontal plane placed through the axis of the shaft 96 so that forces displacing the guide bar are transmitted substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the follower I34 from the pattern wheel to the guide bar.

According to Figs. 2 and 4 ducts, channels, or passages I48, I50, I52, I54, I56, I58 are arranged in each supporting member H6 in such a way, that they connect a point I60 on its surface adjacent the circumference of a pattern wheel with. a point I62 on its surface above and adjacent the casing II 2, and that, in part, said ducts, channels, or passages pass through the bearings I30 and I28. Therefore, during the operation of the machine, oil supplied to the circumfer ence of the pattern wheels by the oil sump in the casing H2 and thrown off the circumference of the pattern wheels by centrifugal forces will enter the ducts I48 at I60, will pass throughthe bearings I30 and I28 for a lubrication thereof,

and will return into the casing the channels I58 at I62.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the following supply conneotions are arranged between the oil sumps in the casings II2, I60, 64 and 42 of the lubricating system:

A pipe line I64 connects the interior of the casing II2 with the interior of the casing I06. The bearing I4 of the shaft 72 is provided with a bore I66 and a groove I68 connecting the interior of the casing I 60 with the inner surface of the bearing 74. Likewise the bearing 62 of the connecting shaft 58 is provided with a bore I70 and a groove I12 connecting the interior of the casing 64 with the inner surface of the bearing 62. Moreover, the connecting shaft 58 is surrounded by a tube I14 of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of the connecting shaft 58. One end of said tube I14 is mounted on a shoulder I76 of the bearing 62, and the other end of said tube projects into the casing 42 through an opening I18 of the latter. Thus, the tube I74 forms a channel I80 leading from the end of the bearing 62 to the interior of the casing 42.

Furthermore, the bearing carrying the worm 90 is provided with a bore I I2, by leaving bearing 16.

Priorto the start of chine, oil is filled into the casings 42, 64, ID!) to form oil sumps therein for a lubrication of the chain drive 20, the change gear drive 68, the worm gear drive 92, the pattern Wheels I 66, I68, and the supporting members II 6 carrying the followers I34.

During an operation of the warp knitting machine, a rot tion of the main driving shaft ID by an electromotor a rotation of the take-up shaft I2 and of the clutch member means of the chain drive 20. Furthermore, said rotation of the main in turn, results in the guide bars I32 followers I34.

When the drives are in operation, the chain drive 20 is lubricated by the oil sump in the casing 42, the change gear drive 68 is lubricated by the oil sump in the casing 64, the worm. gear drive 92 is lubricated by the oil sump in the casing I00, and the pattern wheels I06, I68 are lubricated by the oil sump in the casing II2. Furthermore, the bearings I28 and I36 of the supporting member II 6 are lubricated by oil thrown off the circumference of the pattern wvheels I06, I08 for passage through the ducts I48, I56, I52, I54, I56, I58, the bearings 74 and I6 of the shaft 12 are lubricated by some oil dropping from the worm gear 94 and passing through the ducts I66, I68 and I82, I84, and the bearing 62 of the connecting shaft 58 is lubricated by some oil thrown by the change gears 66, 70 against the walls of the casing 64, which drops from said walls and enters the ducts I10, I12. Thus, all elements of the drives described above are efiiciently and continuously lubricated during the operation of the warp knitting machine.

A certain amount of oil may trickle from the bearing 62 and pass through the channel I80 a reciprocating movement of by means of the spring-loaded into the casing 42 by the lubrication excess oil filled into the casing H2 may pass through the overflow or connecting pipe line I 64 into the casing I00 so as to replace oil consumed therein. Thus, the oil consumed at the various places of lubrication, which are remote from each other, may be readily replaced by filling a supply of fresh oil into the accessible open container II2 serving as a, centralized refilling station for the entire lubricating system.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

For example, instead of the chain drive 20, a different drive of the take-up shaft I2 and the clutch member I4 may be arranged in the casing 42 for a lubrication of all elements of said drive; if desired, the chain drive driving shaft with the take-up shaft and the take-up shaft may be connected with the clutch member by a separate set of gears, as shown for example in my co-pending patent application Ser. #523,638 relating to A take-up device for a warp knitting machine, filed February 24, 1944.

Although, according to the preferred embodior more supply connections between oil sumps may be omitted.

What I claim is:

In a warp knitting machine having a main driving shaft, a take-up shaft, a hand wheel shaft, a first clutch member connected with said hand wheel shaft, and

of receiving il, said chain said casing for lubrication by oil in said sump.

3. A warp knitting machine comprising a main driving shaft, a take-up shaft, a hand wheel shaft, a first clutch member connected with said hand wheel shaft, a second clutch member arranged for cooperation with said first clutch member, a first sprocket connected with said main driving shaft, a second sprocket connected with said take-up shaft, a, third sprocket connected with said second clutch member, and a chain trained around said three sprockets.

4. In a warp knitting machine having a main driving shaft, guide bars, and pattern wheels for the reciprocation, of said guide bars, the combination of a drive interposed between said main driving shaft and said pattern wheels for a ro tation of the latter, bearings, following means connected with, said guide bars, said following means being slidably mounted in said bearings, means arranged for holding said following means in engagement with said pattern wheels for an actuation by the latter, a casing having a sump capable of receiving oil, said pattern wheels being arranged for dipping into 011 in said sump so as to be lubricated at their surface, and means for leading oil from the surface of the pattern wheels to said bearings.

5. A warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 4, including means for returning the oil from said hearings to the sump in said casing after the lubrication of said bearings.

6. In a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 4, said following means being provided with passages having an inlet at a point adjacent the pattern wheels, passing through said bearings, and having an outlet at a point adjacent said casing, whereby oil thrown off the pattern wheels during a rotation thereof is returned into the sump in said casing after a lubrication of said bearings.

7. In a warp knitting machine having a main driving shaft, a take-up shaft, guide bars, and pattern wheels for thereciprocation of said guide bars, the combination of a first drive interposed between said main driving shaft and said take-up shaft for rotating the latter, a second drive interposed between said main driving shaft and said pattern wheels for rotating the latter, a casing having a sump capable of receiving oil, at least one container having at least one sump capable of receiving oil, said first drive being arranged in said casing for lubrication by oil in the-sump thereof, said second drive being arranged insaid.

container for lubrication by oil in the sump thereof, and oil supply connections between said casing and said container.

8. In combination with a warp knitting ma-, chine as claimed in claim 7, a tank having a sump capable of receiving oil, said pattern wheels being arranged for dipping into oil in the sump of said tank, and an overflow between said tank and said container.

9. In combination with a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 7, bearings, following means connected with said guide bars, said following means being slidably mounted in said bearings, means arranged for holding said following means in engagementwith said pattern wheels for an actuationby the latter, a tank having a sump capable of receiving. oil, said pattern wheels being arranged for dipping into oil in the sump of said tank so as to be lubricated at their surface, means for leading oil from the surface of the pattern wheels to, said bearings, means for returning the oil from said hearings to said tank after lubrication of said bearings, and an overflow between said tank and said container.

10. In a warp knitting machine having amain driving shaft, a take-up shaft, guide bars, and pattern wheels for the reciprocation of said guide bars, the combination of a first drive interposed between said main driving shaft and said takeup shaft for rotating the latter, a second drive interposed between said main driving shaft and said pattern wheels for rotating the latter, said second drive including a change gear drive and a worm gear drive coupled with each other, a first casing having a first sump capable of receiving oil, a second casing having a second sump capable of receiving oil, a'third casing having a third sump capable of receiving oil, said first drive being arranged in said first casing for lubrication by oil in said first sump, said change gear drive being arranged in said second casing for lubrication by oil in said second sump, said worm gear drive being arranged in said third casing for lubrication by oil in said third sump, and oil supply connections between said three casings.

11. In combination with a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 10, a fourth casing having a fourth sump capable of receiving oil, said pattern wheels being'arranged for dipping into oil in said fourth sump, and an overflow between said fourth casing and said third casing.

12. In combination with a warp knitting machine as claimed in claim 10, bearings, following means connected with said guide bars, said following means being slidably mounted in said bearings, means arranged for holding said following means in engagement with saidpattern wheels for an actuation by the latter, a fourth casing having a fourth sump capable of receiving oil, said pattern wheels being arranged for dipping into oil in said fourth sump so as to be lubricated at their surface, means for leading oil from the surfaceof the pattern wheels to said bearings, means for returning the oil from said bearings to said fourth casing after lubrication of said bearings, and an overflow between said fourth casing and said third casing.

FRITZ LAMBACH.

CES {WEED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,981,511 Kinsella Nov. 20, 1934 2,110,541 Winter Mar. 8, 1938 2,130,979 Wirth Sept. 20, 1938 2,863,535 Lambach Nov, 28, 1944 1,858,533 White May 17, 1932 1,878,379 Church Sept. 20, 1932 1,667,285 Clisson Apr. 24, 1928 1,673,566 Himes June 12, 1928 1,680,328 Eicher Aug. 14, 1928 1,686,271 George Oct. 2, 1928 1,984,148 Morrish Dec. 11, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 627,392 Germany Mar. 14, 1936 

